Tanzania’s second President Ali Hassan Mwinyi Thursday died at the age of 98.

News of Mwinyi’s death was announced by President Samia Suluhu Hassan.

Mwinyi served as President of Tanzania between 1985 and 1995. He succeeded the founding president, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere.

He had been in and out of hospital with a chest illness since last November. Mwinyi is credited for introducing multiparty elections and easing state control of the economy.